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How Dundee became a world gaming hub | How Dundee became a world gaming hub |
(about 16 hours later) | |
By Christopher Sleight Tayside reporter, BBC Scotland news website | By Christopher Sleight Tayside reporter, BBC Scotland news website |
The UK government is investing £2.5m in a video games centre at Abertay University, Dundee. There are more than a dozen gaming companies based in the city. How did it become such a hub for the industry? | The UK government is investing £2.5m in a video games centre at Abertay University, Dundee. There are more than a dozen gaming companies based in the city. How did it become such a hub for the industry? |
Dundee's links to the gaming industry began with the Lemmings. | Dundee's links to the gaming industry began with the Lemmings. |
The hugely popular computer game, released in 1991 for Commodore Amiga, was written by Dave Jones - a resident of the city and graduate of Abertay University. | The hugely popular computer game, released in 1991 for Commodore Amiga, was written by Dave Jones - a resident of the city and graduate of Abertay University. |
There are more than a dozen video games companies based in Dundee | There are more than a dozen video games companies based in Dundee |
The game involved guiding lemmings around obstacles to an exit. It instantly hooked millions of people. | The game involved guiding lemmings around obstacles to an exit. It instantly hooked millions of people. |
Lemmings was produced by DMA Design, the video game company founded by Mr Jones founded in Dundee in 1988. | Lemmings was produced by DMA Design, the video game company founded by Mr Jones founded in Dundee in 1988. |
A few years after the Lemmings success, DMA went on to develop Grand Theft Auto, which cemented Mr Jones' reputation as one of the most respected games developers in the industry. | |
He is now the creative director of Realtime Worlds, another Dundee-based gaming company. | He is now the creative director of Realtime Worlds, another Dundee-based gaming company. |
His colleague Colin Macdonald, Realtime Worlds' studio manager, says Mr Jones is widely recognised as the reason video games are such big business for the city. | His colleague Colin Macdonald, Realtime Worlds' studio manager, says Mr Jones is widely recognised as the reason video games are such big business for the city. |
"Dave is the 'grandfather' of the gaming industry in Dundee - though he wouldn't like me saying that as he's quite young", he says. | "Dave is the 'grandfather' of the gaming industry in Dundee - though he wouldn't like me saying that as he's quite young", he says. |
"There are 14 or 15 companies other gaming companies in Dundee at the moment. | "There are 14 or 15 companies other gaming companies in Dundee at the moment. |
"There are also a lot of related companies - accountants and lawyers specialising in the gaming industry. But it all started with Dave Jones." | |
Dave Jones developed the popular Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto | Dave Jones developed the popular Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto |
Recognising the success of Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, Abertay University became the first university in the world to offer a course in software engineering for video games in 1996. | Recognising the success of Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, Abertay University became the first university in the world to offer a course in software engineering for video games in 1996. |
Mr Macdonald - himself a graduate of Abertay - says there is now a "symbiotic" relationship between the university and the city's games developers. | Mr Macdonald - himself a graduate of Abertay - says there is now a "symbiotic" relationship between the university and the city's games developers. |
"There are some cracking graduates coming out of the course," says Mr Macdonald, who has been with Realtime Worlds since 2002. | "There are some cracking graduates coming out of the course," says Mr Macdonald, who has been with Realtime Worlds since 2002. |
He says there is a healthy competition for the graduates, who are usually able to find work with one of the companies in Dundee if they want to stay in the area. | He says there is a healthy competition for the graduates, who are usually able to find work with one of the companies in Dundee if they want to stay in the area. |
The UK gaming industry has so far also appeared to be recession-proof, growing by 12% this year - the same as the previous two years. | The UK gaming industry has so far also appeared to be recession-proof, growing by 12% this year - the same as the previous two years. |
Mr Macdonald points to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which smashed UK sales records on its first day of release, as an example of the growing popularity of video games. | Mr Macdonald points to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which smashed UK sales records on its first day of release, as an example of the growing popularity of video games. |
The studio manager believes this is one of the reasons politicians - and graduates' parents - are beginning to take notice of the sector. | The studio manager believes this is one of the reasons politicians - and graduates' parents - are beginning to take notice of the sector. |
"There was always the question from the uncle you hadn't seen for ages: 'Haven't you got a proper job yet?' | |
"Games are still not accepted as being a proper industry or as a proper job. But we're beginning to get through to politicians and parents", he says. | "Games are still not accepted as being a proper industry or as a proper job. But we're beginning to get through to politicians and parents", he says. |
"These are the products that are making billions of dollars - to ignore that is crazy." | "These are the products that are making billions of dollars - to ignore that is crazy." |
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